As gently as I can, I slip from the bed and sit at the desk by the window, scribbling out a note. It’s brief but I don’t know what else to say… I don’t know what to say that won’t hurt him. I fold it over and write Brand’s name on it, propping it up by the lamp where he’ll see it.
I watch him again, soaking him in, memorizing his strong face, his chiseled jaw, the cleft in his chin. I wish I could look into his eyes one more time… the blue, blue ocean that I’ve looked into a hundred times.
The eyes that say they love me, even if he hasn’t said the words. I know he does. I saw it tonight.
And that will have to be enough.
I bend and brush the softest of kisses on his brow and slip from the room.
I know Jacey isn’t back yet, so I quickly grab my things from her room, stuffing them in my bag. I’m quietly walking through the kitchen when the back door opens and Jacey steps in.
She’s startled to see me and she starts to say hello, but then her eyes take in the bag in my hand and widen.
“Are you… you’re leaving.”
I swallow hard, then nod. The movement hurts, like a scalpel or a sword.
“And Brand doesn’t know.”
Jacey’s voice is limp.
I stare at her, not answering.
She stares back, confused, pissed.
I take a step around her and she grabs my elbow.
“I don’t know if this matters to you, but I haven’t seen Brand this happy in a long time. Actually, I’ve never seen him this happy. This will kill him. I can’t imagine why you’d leave him.”
I stare at her, directly in the eyes.
“You left him.”
“But he and I were never together,” she points out. “You… I … never mind. It’s not my business.”
She turns her back and starts to walk away.
“Jacey?”
She turns around silently, because words aren’t needed. Her icy glare says everything.
“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. Can you.. just… take care of him.”
Jacey nods curtly, one time, and I do the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do in my life.
I drive away from Brand Killien.
I sob the entire way to the airport.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brand
When I wake, the bed is empty. It takes a minute to realize that Nora has already gotten up. I stretch and wait for her to come back, but after a long while passes, I realize she’s not going to.
She must be out talking with Jacey.
I shake my head as I climb from bed. What a fucked up situation. But what an amazing night.